Support socket and removable leg for bedframes, tables or similar articles



Oct. 4, 1966 K. JACKSON REMOVABLE LEG FOR BEDFRAME 3,2 76,732 TABLES SUPPORT SOCKET AND OR SIMILAR ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 31, 1964 FIG! FIG.4

INVENTOR. @70 LESLIE K..JACKSON FIGS ATTYS Oct. 4, 1966 L K. JACKSON 3,276,732

SUPPORT SOCKET AND REMOVABLE LEG FOR BEDFRAMES, TABLES OR SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Aug. 31, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LESLEE K.JACKSON AT T Y S.

United States Patent 3,276,732 SUPPORT SOCKET AND REMOVABLE LEG FOR BEDFRAMES, TABLES 0R SIMILAR ARTICLES Leslie K. Jackson, Bay Village, Ohio, assignor to Rusco Industries, Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 393,184 8 Claims. (Cl. 248-188) This invention relates to a support socket and removable leg for bedframes, tables, or .similar articles, and more particularly to a metallic support socket operatively attached to a metal frame where the metal frame passes through the center of the socket, and where a slotted leg is usually received in telescoping relation in the socket so the slot in the leg slidably engages and extends around part of the frame.

Heretofore, it has been known that there have been many and various types of removable supporting legs provided for bedframes, tables or similar articles. However, in many instances these prior art constructions have been rather complicated in design and have not functioned very well to securely and firmly hold a removable leg in position so that the leg provides adequate support. Generally also, these prior art removable legs have been positioned in receiving sockets which are attached as extra equipment to the article to be supported, which adds to construction costs. A simple, sturdy, removable support leg is needed by the art.

It is the general object of the invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difli-culties of and objections to the prior art practices and to meet the needs of the art by providing a support socket and removable leg for bedframes, tables, or similar structures which apparatus is an integral part of the construction of the structure, which is highly effective in use, and which is inexpensive to make and assemble.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support socket operatively secured to a horizontally extending frame section which has a vertically directed frame section passing through the center of the socket with a tubular support leg, usually slotted at its upper end, removably telescoped into the support socket, and having the slot slidably received over the vertically directed portion of the frame to provide a support for the leg by the socket, and also by the slot walls engaging the vertical portion of the frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a support socket and removable leg construction which socket is adapted for use with various members for support thereof by the removable leg that can be readily engaged with the socket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a support socket which is formed as a clip from one metal sheet and is slidably received over a vertically directed member of a structure to be supported, which is operatively held in fixed relation thereto, and where either a support leg to be telescopically received into the socket may be slotted to slide over the member, or the member may be slotted so that the leg may slide to the depth of the slot into the socket.

The aforesaid objects of the invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing the combination, as one embodiment of the invention, of a horizontally extending metallic frame having a vertically directed member integrally aflixed to the frame with a bifurcated clip having fiat ends and an outwardly bowed middle defining a substantially circular socket, the clip being slidably received over the vertically directed member in the frame so the fiat ends lie in adjacent relation to the member on opposite sides thereof, rivet means connected through the flat portions of the clip and the member operatively holding 3,276,732 Patented Oct. 4, 1966 "ice the clip in position on the member so that the circular socket defined thereby is positioned substantially vertically, and a tubular leg telescopically engaged with the socket provided by the clip.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a broken away plan view in partial cross section of a typical embodiment of the invention, taken substantially on line 1-1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a broken away elevation of the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1 showing the relation between the socket clip, the leg and how this combination holds a pair of L-shaped frames or angles in operative relation together;

FIG. 3 is a broken away elevation of the slotted end of the tubular leg of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional broken away view of a slotted frame member comprising another embodiment of the invention so that the tubular leg need not be slotted as in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are vertical sections of other frame means for use in the assembly of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a metal plate or sheet from which the support socket of the invention can be formed;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the sheet of FIG. 7 after the next forming operation has been performed thereon; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the completed clip as made by the next forming step from the plate shown in FIG. 8.

According to the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the numeral 10' indicates generally a preferred embodiment of the invention which comprises a pair of horizontally positioned L-shaped rails 12 and 14, each having a vertically directed leg, or flanges 16 and 18, respectively. The rails 12 and 14 are positioned in adjacent relationship so that the flanges 16 and 18 lie in abut-ted face to face relationship, as more clearly shown in FIG. 2. These rails 12 and 14 are structural shapes and form a frame means for an article that requires some support be provided therefor. The frame means hence normally will be horizontally extending, or positioned but includes vertically positioned or extending members such as the sections or flanges 16 and 18. The rails 12 and 14 are either horizontally aligned or else substantially aligned, and the rail 14 may be considered a reenforcing angle in the assembly. A bifurcated clip, indicated generally by the numeral 20, having flat ends 22 and 24 and bowed middle portions 26 which defines a central socket 28, is slidably positioned over the vertically extending flanges 16 and 18. In order to hold the clip, or socket forming means 20 in position, any suitable means, such as rivets 30 and 32, engage or extend through the fiat ends 22 and 24, respectively, and through the flanges 16 and 18, to secure the clip 20 in position with relation to the flanges 16 and 18 and to form a solid unit therewith. It will be understood that the rivets 30 and 32 also operatively position the rails 12 and 14 in fixed relationship to each other. Normally, the rails 12 and 14 will receive further structures thereupon for support, for instance, a spring or mattress, a tabletop, a seat, etc.

The invention contemplates that the .clip 20 will normally be formed from one metal sheet by having bridging section, or portions 34 and 36 connect to the flat portions 22 and 24 and extend around the bottom edge of the flanges 16 and 18, as clearly seen in FIG. 2. In order to complete the assembly, a tubular metal support leg 40, having a slotted end portion 42, is slidably received in the socket 28 defined by the bowed middle portions 26 of the clip 20. The leg 40 is generally contemplated to be either lightly pressed, or provided with a driving fit in the socket 3 28 and is forced thereinto until the bottom end of the slot 42 engages the edges of the flanges 16 and 18, as clearly seen in FIG. 2. Note that the end of the leg 40 usually does not quite extend completely through the socket 28 but the leg 40 is operatively removably supported by the socket 28 because of the light press or drive fit thereinto. Additional support to the leg 40 is usually provided by the walls of slot 42 frictionally engaging the outer sides of the flanges 16 and 18. This double holding and supporting action of the leg 40 by the socket 28 and flanges 16 and 18 insures a rigid and firm support for the structural or load carrying rails 12 and 14.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention where the frame F is made from a metal angle that has a single vertically directed flange 50 with a slot 52 cut therein for receipt of a tubular leg 54 therein. Hence, the leg does not need to have a slotted end, such as the slot 52 in the member 50. Again, a clip, indicated generally by the numeral 20a, similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is operatively positioned on the member 50 by suitable means, such as rivets 56 and 58 to provide a receiving socket 28a for the leg 54 to be lightly pressed or driven into position relative thereto. In this embodiment, again a dual supporting feature for the leg 54 is provided, since the clip 2001 with its associated socket provides one support, while the closely fitting slot 52 of the member 50 provides the other support. Thus, the support is similar to that provided by the slot 42 of the leg 40 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The invention also contemplates that the clip 20 or 20a could be adaptable to be received upon any vertically directed member, such as a straight I-shaped member 60 as shown in FIG. 5, or a T-shaped member 70 as in FIG. 6 as well as the shapes shown in other figures of the drawings. As indicated above, the receiving vertical member may be solid so that the leg positioned in the socket must be slotted to slide over or around the member, or the member can be slotted so that the leg can be solid to be positioned in the socket and slide into the slot of the member. As the support leg only frictionally engages its socket, it is removably positioned therein. The invention also contemplates that the central portion defining the socket of the clip need not define a vertically directed socket, but could easily define a socket directed at any desired angle with relation to the vertical so that even though the clip is placed in a horizozntal relationship with respect to the base frame, the socket defined thereby can be positioned in any desired angle with relation to the vertical, including an exact vertical angle, as shown in the drawings. It should also be understood, that although the invention has been illustrated and described as providing a supporting leg, which is generally understood to be a vertically downwardly directed leg to support something thereabove, the invention is adaptable to provide supporting legs directed upwardly from a socket mounted therebelow. In other words, the leg 40 could be directed upwardly or downwardly depending upon the relationship of the socket and the member to which the socket is operatively afiixed.

FIGS. 7 through 9 show one convenient method for forming the novel support socket of the invention and wherein the support socket could be made from a strip of metal sheet or plate in a progressive die so that the metal sheet indicated at S, could for example, have a plurality of perforations 71 formed therein by the initial perforating step in the forming die, and with a slot 72 being cut in the plate by the same perforating action in the die. Then the plate S would be moved to the next station in the progressive die where a forming action would be effected on the metal plate S to form the semi-cylindrical sections 26, 26 in axially spaced portions of the metal sheet S. As a third stage in the die, a wipe-up action can be performed on the metal plate S to bend the plate at the connecting or bridging sections 34 and 36 that extend between and are formed as a unit with the flat por- A tions or sections 22, 22, at each end of each section of the bifurcated clip that forms the novel and improved support socket of the invenion.

In accordance with the patent statutes, only the best known embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, but it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby, but that the inventive scope is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination in a support socket and a leg assembly,

a horizontally positioned frame means having a vertically extending reenforcing section therein,

clip-type support socket means secured at end portions thereof to said reenforcing section and extending along both vertical surfaces thereof,

said socket means having center sections bridging outwardly from said reenforcing section intermediate said end portions of said socket means and having connecting portions bridging over the lower end of said reenforcing section, and

a support leg shaped complementary to said socket means center sections telescopically engaged therewith to be positioned thereby, said leg being slotted at its upper end so as to extend around the reenforcing section when said leg telescopically engages said socket means center sections.

2. In combination,

a horizontally positioned frame means of substantially T-shape in vertical section and having a vertically extending reenforcing member with a vertically extending slot extending into the lower end thereof,

unitary socket means secured at end portions thereof to said reenforcing member and extending along both exposed surfaces thereof,

said socket means having center sections bridging outwardly from said reenforcing member intermediate said end portions of said socket means, and

a support leg received in said slot in said vertically extending reenforcing member, said leg being shaped complementary to said socket means center sections telescopically and removably engaged therewith to be positioned thereby.

3. In combination,

a horizontally extending metallic bedframe,

a vertically directed flange member operatively affixed to the frame,

a bifurcated clip having flat ends and an outwardly bowed middle defining a substantially circular socket, said clip being slidably received over the vertically directed flange member of the bedframe so that the flat ends lie in adjacent relation to the flange member on opposite sides thereof,

means engaging the flat portions of the clip and the flange member operatively holding said clip in position on the flange member so that the circular socket defined thereby is positioned substantially vertically, and

a tubular leg telescopically engaged with said circular socket of said clip for supporting said frame, said leg being vertically slotted at its upper end so as to extend around the flange member when the leg is telescopically engaged with the socket of the clip.

4, In combination,

a horizontally extending metallic frame having a vertically directed section therein,

a bifurcated clip having flat ends and an outwardly bowed middle defining a socket means, said clip extending over the vertically directed section of the frame so that the flat ends lie in adjacent relation to the section on opposite sides thereof,

means engaging the flat portions of the clip and the verically extending section to hold said clip in position so that the socket means defined thereby is posi tioned substantially at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical, and

a leg telescopically engaged with said socket means of a rail having a downwardly extending leg, a reenforcing angle having a downwardly extending leg 'abutted against the downwardly extending leg of said rail,

socket means including a pair of plate sections secured at their ends to said downwardly extending legs with one of said plate sections extending along the exposed surface of each of said downwardly extending legs, each said plate section having a center section bridging outwardly from its associated leg, and connecting means formed as a unit from one metal sheet with said plate sections extending therebetween only at the end portions thereof and extending over the lower portions of said downwardly extending legs, said plate sections being of substantially the same vertical length as said downwardly extending legs, and tubular support leg telescopically engaged with the center sections of said leg socket means, said support leg being slotted at its upper end to slidably engage in a tight fit over the abutted legs of the rail and the reenforcing angle when the support leg is telescopically engaged with the center sections of the socket means.

In a bedframe, table, or the like,

a frame having a vertically extending portion, socket means including a pair of plate sections secured at their ends to said vertically extending portion with one of said plate sections extending along one of the exposed surfaces of said vertically extending portion, each said plate section having a center section bridging outwardly from its associated frame portion, and connecting means formed integrally with said plate sections extending therebetween only at the end portions thereof and extending over the lower edge of said vertically extending portion, said plate sections being of substantially the same vertical length as said vertically extending portion, and

tubular support leg telescopically engaged with the center sections of said socket means, said support leg being slotted at its top so as to extend around the vertically extending portion of said frame when said leg is telescopically engaged with the center sections of said socket means.

In combination,

a horizontally extending metallic bedframe, a vertically directed flange member operatively afiixed said clip being slidably received over the vertically directed flange member of the bedframe so that the flat ends lie in adjacent relation to the flange member on opposite sides thereof,

means engaging the fiat portions of the clip and the flange member operatively holding said clip in position on the flange member so that the circular socket defined thereby is positioned substantially vertically, and

a tubular leg telescopically engaged with said circular socket of said clip for supporting said frame, the flange member inside the socket of the clip being slotted to receive the end of the leg when it is telescopically engaged with the socket of the clip.

8. In a bedframe, table, or the like,

a rail having a downwardly extending leg,

a reenforcing angle having a downwardly extending leg abuttedagainst the downwardly extending leg of said rail,

socket means including a pair of plate sections secured at their ends to said downwardly extending legs with one of said plate sections extending along the exposed surface of each of said downwardly extending legs, each said plate section having a center section bridging outwardly from its associated leg, and connecting means formed as a unit from one metal sheet with said plate sections extending therebetween only at the end portions thereof and extending over the lower portions of said downwardly extending legs, said plate sections being of substantially the same vertical length as said downwardly extending legs, and

a tubular support leg telescopically engaged with the center sections of said leg socket means, the abutted legs of the rail and the reenforcing angle being slotted inside the center sections of the socket means to slidably receive in a tight fit the end of the support leg telescopically engaged with the center sections of the socket means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CLAUDE A-. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

JOHN PETO, Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION IN A SUPPORT SOCKET AND A LEG ASSEMBLY, A HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED FRAME MEANS HAVING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING REENFORCING SECTION THEREIN, CLIP-TYPE SUPPORT SOCKET MEANS SECURED AT END PORTIONS THEREOF TO SAID REENFORCING SECTION AND EXTENDING ALONG BOTH VERTICAL SURFACES THEREOF, SAID SOCKET MEANS HAVING CENTER SECTIONS BRIDGING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID REENFORCING SECTION INTERMEDIATE SAID END PORTIONS OF SAID SOCKET MEANS AND HAVING CONNECTING PORTIONS BRIDGING OVER THE LOWER END OF SAID REENFORCING SECTION, AND A SUPPORT LEG SHAPED COMPLEMENTARY TO SAID SOCKET MEANS CENTER SECTIONS TELESCOPICALLY ENGAGED THEREWITH TO BE POSITIONED THEREBY, SAID LEG BEING SLOTTED AT ITS UPPER END SO AS TO EXTEND AROUND THE REENFORCING SECTION WHEN SAID LEG TELESCOPICALLY ENGAGES SAID SOCKET MEANS CENTER SECTIONS. 